Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 31, 1939. A. A. KucHER 'REFRIGERATING A-PPARATUS Filed March l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v lNveNfon'. -W Agnla 0t.31,193.9.4 A A KL,HER 2,117,663

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS l Filed March 1, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTOREY Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ramsar/:Amo APrAnA'rUs Andrew Kuchen na'yum, ohm Application March 1, L1937, .Serial No. 128,305

. io claims. (Grez-#89) The present invention relates to 4refrigerating apparatus and particularly to the method of circulating cooling air within the refrigerated storage compartment of the refrigerator cabinet.

5 In my 'copending application Serial No. 112,309,

' filed November 23, 1936, I- provide a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed shelves constructed and arranged within the refrigerated compartment in such manner that the air flowed i downwardly and upwardly, predominantly in zigzag paths whereby a relatively high relative humidity of the air as well as a relatively wide temperature differential was maintained between f different parts of the storagecompartment. l Under certain conditions it is 'desirable to maintain a more uniform temperature throughout the entire storage compartment. One of the objects 0f the present invention is to cause at least part of the cooling air to follow a circuitous course including the zigzag path of the refrigerator compartment wherein the air flows in one general direction, for example, either upwardly or downwardly and which 'circuitous course also includes another path for the flow of air in an opposite direction to thereby complete the air circuit.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to establish a course for the iiow of air in which a path, separate from` the zigzag path, is. utilized for completing a circuit for the flow of at least partv of the air so /that air can flow into one end ,of the zigzag path and out of the other end thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air control device, such as a damper, for controlling the direction of the flow of air in the zigzag path and morev specifically, to provide `a.

damper which will, when in one position, permit 'A air to flow through a circuitous course, and, which will, when in .another position, 'cause' the air to ow in zigzag paths to and from the environment ofthe heat absorber.

The insulations employed for refrigerator cabinets are'usually hygroscopic and will in time absorb such quantity of moisture as to impair the insulating effects thereof. Afurther object of the improved refrigerator showing the food compartment door open;

Fig. 2 is'a front view of the refrigerator also showing thedoor open Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken 5 online 3-3 of Fig. 2; (s

Fig, 4 is a sectional view takenondine 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5`\is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the air duct or e carried by 1Q,

the door of the cabinet;

Fig.' 6 is also a longitudinal sectional View showing another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a front view of a refrigerator cabinet with the door removed and showing still another 15 embodiment of the invention; f

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower part of the refrigerator cabinet showing in 20 detail a damper; e

, Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but'showing the vdamper in the open position; and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view showing the rear side of part of the damper.

Referring in general to the drawings, a refrig erator cabinet 20 is shown provided with an inner liing 2| forming a compartment 22. 'I'he com-g pa'tment 22 isclosed by a door 23 which carries rubber gaskets 25 and 2B. A heat absorber in 30 the form of an evaporator 28 is disposed in the upper part of the compartment 22, and supports a plurality of ice trays 29. A pan 3| for foods Ato be frozen is carried below the evaporator 28. A

plurality of glass shelves 32, 33 and 34 having a 35 bead on each edge are suitably carried by the lining 2i and are disposed one above the other and in staggered relation. These shelves form a zigzag space within the storage compartment 22.

'The air, cooled bythe heat absorber 28, can 40 l follow a circuitous course and at least part of the air does follow the circuitous course when a path is opened to complete the course. To accomplish this, a path, in addition to the zigzag path,

is provided and the air may flow either upwardly 45 or, downwardly by properly positioning the inlet and outlet openings thereto. In the embodimentillustrated in Figs; 2 and 3, a duct 36 is formed in the rear of the cabinet by spacing the rear wall 39 of the lining 2| from the insulation. This 50 rear wall is provided with openings 31 and 3 8. In this embodiment at least part of the air falling through the zigzag path in compartment 22 will pass from below the lower shelf 34 and through the opening 3l into the duct 36,` whence 'it will 55 and conducted upwardly. These phenomena,v

case, all of the air must pass upwardly and downwardly through the zigzag path.

'I'he lining 2| being made of sheet material will absorb heat from the interior of the compartment and will conduct the same to the upper part where it is absorbed by the evaporator. Likewise, due tothe smooth surfacelarea of the polished glass shelves, and the smoothly finished, preferably porcelain,.lining 2|, heat from the food will be reflected by the shelves and lining and thereby assist in minimizing the temperature differential between kremote parts of the compartment 22. It will be understood that some of the reilected heat will be absorbed by the relatively cold lining in addition to the aforementioned eddies and the circuitous course, will minimize materially thev differential "in temperaturebetween the remote parts of the food compartment. In this manner, desirable temperatures are maintained in the cabinet with minimal circulation. This is advantageous in that food will not be dehydrated quickly, particularly in the space below the lowest shelf 34, and in this manner, the so-calledI 25 .hydrator can be eliminated, for in effect the entire lower portion of the compartment functions as a high humiditychamber.

Although, as previously explained, the difieren: tial in temperature, between remote parts of the 30 compartment, are minimized, nevertheless there will be a temperature gradient between these re.

mote parts of the compartment. vThis temperature gradient is not a disadvantage; in fact ther is an advantage in maintaining a temperature gradient inthe compartment. Some'foods, such as vegetables'can be maintained at a relatively warm temperature and when stored in the lowest part'of the compartment they are maintained at the desired temperature and, in addition to this. the relative humidity is high enough to prevent dehydration of the food while the circulation of l air is sumcient to prevent molding ofthe food.

Ithas been found in actual practice that the space between the left handedges of the shelves 32 and 34 and the left side of the lining and the space between the right hand edge of shelf 33 and the'right wall of the lining can be materially reduced without detrimental e'ects upon the circulation of air through the circuitous course including the flue 36. However, these spaces have been maintained as shown so as to serve as spaces for receiving the upper parts of articles such as/milk and beverage bottles. Therefore although these spaces are ,filled with cylindrical-bottles. the space between the bottles is suiiiciently large to permit adequate circulation in the circuitous course.

Still another embodiment of the invention is `shown in Flg. 5 in which the rear lining 38 lies flush against the rear insulation'and is imperforate. In this embodiment the duct for completing the circuitousjcourse comprises a sheet metal channel shaped member 62 of substantlaly the same width .and depth as the duct 38 and in rwhich the side flanges are permanently secured to the inside of the door 23. The lower vpart of the duct 62 forms the inlet thereto andthe upper part thereof is also open and forms an outlet leading to the environment of the evaporator 23. It will of course be understood that this duct could be lowered so that the air would flow downwardly therethrough and feed the extreme bottom'of the compartment 22 with cold air.

Another embodiment of the inventionis shown in Fig. 6 wherein the rear wall 39 of the lining is providedwith openings 63 and 64 directly'below shelves so as to further enhance the circulation and thereby provide a still closer differential in temperature between the upper part of the compartment 22 and the lower part thereof. It will be noted that the bent out portions 65 and 66 do not extend rearwardly as far as the bent out portion 68 of opening 31 and thereby permit the free flow of airv through' the duct 36. Those schooled in the art will readily understand that all of the openings 31, 64, 63 and 38 can be lowered so that the air ilows downwardly in the duct 36 whereby cold air` will enter the compartment 22 directly above vthe bottom wall of the lining and directly above the shelves 32, 33 and 34.

Still another embodiment of the. invention is shown in` Figs. 'l and 8 wherein the more direct path of the circuitous course is formed also directly by the shelves. Here each of the shelves 68, 69, and 10 includes a rea-r portion 1| 12 and 13, respectively, and these portions extend throughout the width' of the shelves and are aligned one above the other and are spaced from the rear wall 39 of the lining and thereby provide in eiect an air duct 16. It will be understood that the portions 12 and 13 can extend high enough so as to y engage or substantially engage the shelf above the same and the portion 1| can extend to the top of similarly to the device shown and described in connection with Fig.-6. Also, itis obvious that the portions 1|, 12 and 13 can be arranged so that the air will flow downwardly through the channel or duct 15 and thereby supply air to the compartment directly above the bottom wall of the lining 2| and directly above the shelves 68, 69 and 10.

Under certain conditionsit is desirable to maintain a higher temperature differential between the remote pa'rts of the compartment 22 and therefore I have provided a damper 11 for controlling the now of air in the more direct or straighter duct of the circuitous course. though such vdamper may be incorporated in any of the embodiments illustrated, Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the same as directly applicable to the embodiments shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. The damper 11'is preferably disposed in the channel 36 and carries a handle 18 for-manipulating the same. This handle extends through the' opening 31 an'd can be reached whenthe door 23 is open. Brackets 88 are secured on the back side of the lining wall 39 by screwsl. These brackets are each bent rearwardly to form extensions 82 which extensions are spaced, as at 83, from the lining so as torprovide a' socket for receiving the bottom part of the damper 11 as shown in Fig. l0. The extensions 82 vare each provided with a curved finger, and the damper 11 is provided 'with openings 86 which receive the ngers 85. The handle 18 is secured to the damper 11 by rivetsv 81.

When itis desirable to close the damper'the hanthat the lingers 85 will enter the openings 86 and then the damper 'l1 will fall of its own weight to the position shown in Fig. 9.. l

Thus, since this damper is provided, the refrigerator may be operated with a relatively wide differential of temperature between the remote parts of the food compartment or a relatively narrower differential of temperature. When the damper is open, a circuitous course isestablished for the en-` tire space within the food compartment whereby the differential of temperature between the remote parts is less than when the circuitous course is minimized in effect, or completely eliminated.

From the -foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a refrigerating system in which sevv eral regions of desirably distinct temperatures can .be maintained. Due to -the limited flow of air through the circuitous course, -I have insured circulation, through certain'regions, of such value that desirable temperatures are maintained but the circulation is so limited 'as to prevent the dehydration of foods stored therein. Furthermore,

by providing the controllable damper, the samel refrigerator may be utilized as a refrigerator having relatively wider temperature differentials between remote parts thereof. In either event the circulation is such that the evaporator can be decreased to a relatively low temperature whereby water, within the ice trays 29, can be frozen quickly and yet the food storage compartment will not be decreased to an undesirable temperature. Also the region' directly below the evaporator; namely, that containing the pan 3l, will' be maintained below freezing temperature Lat all times for storing frozen foods therein.

While the forms of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsv tical path open to the insulation and a zigzag path in the cabinet and interconnected with the vertical path, and cooling the air to promote cir- 'cuiation thereof and directing the cooled air first .through one of the paths and then through the other. 2. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet having a cooling compartment, a heat absorberin Vthe upper part thereof, a -substantially imperforate'horizontally disposed shelf interposed between and spaced from the heat absorber and the bottom of the compartment, one edge ofthe shelf stopping short of a vertical wall of the compartment so as to divide the compartment into interconnected upper and lower sub-compartments,

another edge -of said shelf being spaced from another vertical wall of the compartment and havlng a part extending vertically and spaced from the second mentioned vertical wall and-cooperating with the latter to form a iiue insaid cooling compartment alongside one of said sub-compartments.

3. In combination, a, refrigerator cabinet having a cooling compartment, a heat absorber in the upper part thereof, a plurality of substantially imperforateshelves horizontally disposed within the-compartment and vertically spaced.

' from one another to provide a plurality of subcompartments, adjacent shelves-being spaced sorber.

cooling compartment and cooperating therewith to form a ilue, said means being open to a pluralityof lower sub-compartments. Y

4. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet havthe upper part thereof, a plurality of substantially imperforate shelves horizontally disposed within the compartment and vertically spaced from one another to provide a plurality of subcompartments, one of the shelves having an edge thereof spaced from a vertical wall of the compartment and the next lower shelf having an edge thereof-spaced from a wall of the compartment confronting the first mentioned wall for providing a zigzag path for air, each of said shelves having a second edge spaced from a third'vertical wall of the compartment and having a part extending vertically, said'par'ts being aligned with one another vertically and spaced from the third wall to form therewith a iiue.

5. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet including a door cooperating' therewith toform a compartment, means within the cabinet and on the door forming a lining for the compartment, .a heat absorber within the upper part of the compartment, a substantially imperforate shelf interposed between and spaced from the heat absorber and the bottom of the compartment, one edge of the shelf stopping short of .a vertical wall of thecompartment so as to divide the cabinet into sub-compartments, a ue outside of said compartment and`disposed alongside of another vertical wall of the upper sub-compartment, said lining having an opening interconnecting the space directly below the shelf with the iiue and having an opening interconnecting the'upper, part of the flue with the space adjacent 6. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet including a door cooperating therewith to form a compartment, means within the cabinet and on the door forming-a lining for the compartment, a heat absorber within the'upper part of the compartment, a plurality of substantially imperforate shelves horizontally disposed within the compartment and vertically spaced from one another to provide a plurality of sub-compartments,

Vone of the shelves having an edge thereof' spaced from a vertical wall of the compartment and the next lower shelf having an edge thereof spaced from a wall ofthe compartment confronting the ing a cooling compartment, a heat absorber in the heat ab- L first mentioned wall for providing a zigzag path for air, a iiue outside of said Icompartment and disposed along side a third vertical wall of the compartment, said lining having openings interconnecting the space directly below -the shelves with the'riiue and having anropening interconadjacent the heat absorber.

7. In combination,`a refrigerator cabinet hav- .necting the upper part of the iiue with the space' ing a cooling compartment, aheat absorber in the upper part thereof, a substantially imperforate horizontallydisposed shelfinterposed between and spaced from the heat absorber and the Abottom of the compartment', one edge. of the shelf stopping short of a vertical wall ofthe compartment so as to divide the compartment into interconnected 'upper and lower sub-compartments, means disposed alongside the upper sub-compartment and forming a ue interconnecting the lower sub-compartment with the .1Q said space and the space adjacent the heat abspace adjacent the heat absorber, and a controllable damper in said iiue.

8. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet having a cooling compartment, a heat absorber in the upper part thereof, the lower part ofthe compartment forming a storage space cooled by convection currents due to a complete cycle of upward and downward movement of the air, means forming a iue alongside the compartment and interconnected with the lower part of the sorber, and a controllable damper in said tiue adapted to be opened for causing a predominant flow thrqugh the flue in one direction and through the storage space in the opposite direction.

9. The improved method of quickly freezing watery in a household type refrigerator. cabinet and reducing the temperature differential between remote food storage parts of the cabinet which consists in establishing a zone of sub-freezing temperature within the upper part of the cabinet for quickly freezing water and for cooling air thereby providing a cold zone about the sub-freezing zone to thereby promote circulation of air and to thereby shield the sub-freezing zone from the direct influence of warm' circulating air, and directing at least part of said circulating air from one end of a zigzag shaped food storage space to the other end of the said space in one direction and directing air in the opposite direction through another path distinct from the first mentioned path to complete the circuit for the air to and from the cold air zone.

10. The improved method of quickly freezing water in a household type refrigerator cabinet and reducing the temperature diiferential between remote food storage parts of the cabinet which consists in establishing a zone of subfreezing temperature within the upper part of the cabinet for quickly freezing water and for cooling air thereby providing a cold zone about the sub-freezing zone to thereby promote circulation of air and to therebyvshield the subfreezing zone from the direct inuence of warm circulating air, and directing downwardly flowing air through 'a zigzag shaped food storage space and directing air from the bottom of the zigzag shaped spaceI through another path distinct from the path providing the zigzag shaped food storage space and leading to the cold air A. KUCHER. 

